New job as e-learning developer/programmer at big NZ company
Date: Saturday February 9, 2008Posted in: New Zealand
For about a month, I have been working for CWA New Media (Wellington, NZ) as developer/programmer. The position is permanent. CWA New Media works mostly under contract for the ministry of education NZ or for The Learning Federation (organism common to Australia and New Zealand).
CWA New Media produces innovative e-learning materials of all sorts. From short learning objects to complex websites, for learners as well as for teachers, across all levels of education (pre-school to university).
Samples of their past work can be seen at: CWA :: Our Work. Use the menu on the top of the page to explore all their types of work.
Back onto the connected world.
After a little more than a month forced away from the internet due to moving to the other side of the earth, our home connection to the internet has been set.
40 hours of travel over 2-3 days, including a breathtaking 9 hours train trip between Auckland and Palmestorn North… A week at the parents in law to give them a chance to enjoy a bit the company of their son who lived overseas for 8 years or so… A few days spent down in Wellington looking for places to rent…
And this is it, we now have a new home in Wellington, NZ
5 Owen St, Newton, Wellington, NZ
The location is great. Not too far from the city center and with plenty of parks and reserves a few footsteps away. A bit of garden space for the first time in years! I will post photos when I can.
Our email addresses are unchanged but we have to wait till early January to get connected from home. Replies can be slow as we check emails every 2-3 days.
Best Holiday Wishes to All!
Meilleurs voeux pour 2008!
Great news. I was told today that my visa application for residency in NZ has been approved. I can start applying for jobs there.
We used the services of overseas emigration to make sure all admin was managed properly. Given that my situation was a no brainer (highly skilled, in a relationship with a kiwi for 5 years, married for 2 years etc.), chances were high that the visa would be accepted anyway. But to fail to fill a form properly means 3-6 months of delay. OE helped us get through on the first go, without any bump on the road. Very professional and great service.
Only two months to wait and we are off to New Zealand. Robert and I will migrate there and settle in for good. I still wait to have confirmation of the visa. It should be a no brainer case: married to a kiwi for two years, PhD with experience lecturing in good universities, self-trained in software development and e-learning over the last two years. Health checks, certificates of good conducts, recent passport have all been obtained weeks ago. Hopefully, this shouldn’t be too long anymore before I obtain it.
It’s time to start looking for a job there. Some of the websites recommended in a leaflet “new start, new opportunities, New Zealand” provides the following links:
Then, once there, we should start looking for a home to buy. The great news is that prices are way lower than in Edinburgh where we live now. In Edinburgh (Scotland, UK), you can at best find a small apartment in a not great location for £100.000. It seems that you can find a 4 bedrooms house with garden for that amount in NZ. Well, we will have to go and check that out.
